I Take It Personally

It was Easter 2000 when Bob and I were driving to his parents for brunch when we saw a scared little pit bull sitting on the median in the highway. She pulled us to her and we instinctively stopped to see if we could help. She was scared but very sweet, we picked her up and put her in the car and proceeded to brunch. We named her Sunday and she was a loyal and devoted little lover of a dog. It was evident that her history was not pleasant. She had scars and cuts on her face and head and an indent on her back that was the size of a pipe. We knew that she had been used either as a fighting dog or a bait dog. We don't know if she had been dumped on the highway or if she had escaped. Either way, she was ours. We worked with her for 6 months, training, healing, loving. As time passed, the scars that she bore, both physical and emotional began to take their toll on her. She became increasingly aggressive toward anyone who came into our home and toward our cat and our other beloved dog, Jack. When she lunged at a newborn infant, we knew that the most loving(albeit heartbreaking) choice was to let her go back to spirit. Sunday died in my arms in 2001.

When I see the faces of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's property, I see my Sunday and I take it personally. If you have ever loved a dog or any animal, you should, too.

This type of behavior is reprehensible and is indicative of a deeper disease in our society that needs to be dealt with.
The NFL and Hollywood are dealing with this issue at best by ignoring it, at worst, glorifying it by allowing it to permeate films, media and music.

We support with our dollars every time we buy music, go to a movie or buy products that are endorsed by such athletes, musicians and actors who endorse and participate in dog fighting. Our ignorance does not release us from responsibility.

We need to become aware of the money trail and shut it down.

Here is a list of Vick's corporate sponsors:

• Nike: http://niketown.nike.com/niketown/info/privacy.jsp?item=privacy

• EA Sports: http://www.info.ea.com/company/company_prlist.php

• Hasbro: http://hasbro.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/hasbro.cfg/php/enduser/

• Rawlings: http://www.rawlings.com/

• Kraft: http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?m=contact_us/cu_form1

• Coca-Cola and Powerade (owned by CocaCola): http://www.coca-cola.com/template1/index.jsp?locale=en_US(click on contact us)

Contact the Atlanta Falcons and let them know that you will be turning them off if Vick is allowed to play.

• http://www.atlantafalcons.com/About/Contact_Us.asp

Contact the NFL and tell Commissioner Roger Goodell that not only should Vick be suspended but that when he is found guilty, banned from professional football for life. Both PETA and the Humane Society have active petitions.

• http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/petition_dog_fighting
• https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?qp_source=gaba6w

Please join me in protecting dogs and all animals from abuse and neglect.

Our collective love can transform this barbaric and tragic situation and provide a safer world for all of us to coexist. For all of the "Sunday's" in this world.

Peace and Light,
Maria

Support Hemp in the US!

Hello again

It was just brought to my attention again, the annoying and obnoxious habit of our wonderful government to suppress and make illegal that which will heal our world the most.

This time it is Hemp. It is illegal to grow hemp in the go ole US of A because, well they want you to believe that it is because of it's cousin mary jane but it is really because it would put the tree killers and the monsanto sanctioned chemical laden cotton growers out of business. Not to mention the fact that if we all consumed a bit of hemp a day, we would all be a lot healthier.

Ruth at Ruth's Hemp Foods has created a Hemp Bar to support the cause of 2 farmers in North Dakota who have filed a lawsuit against the DEA so they can legally grow hemp in the US. 100% of the profits from the sales of this bar are going to the cause until Oct. 4 and then 20% thereafter for the life of the bar. This is a cause worth supporting! Check it out at http://www.ruthshempfoods.com/votehemp

You can get more information about the cause at http://www.votehemp.com

Lotus Body has been proudly using organic hemp oil in our lip balms and sore muscle salve from the beginning and will be joining the crusade in the near future...stay tuned for details!

Peace, Light and Hemp!
Maria